Whose Data Is It, Anyway? How Permanent.org Stands Apart

In a world where every click, search, and post adds to the personal data companies collect, it’s easy to overlook how much information is being gathered and how it’s used. But when was the last time you truly considered the value of your data? This week, during Love Data Week, we’re encouraged to think about how we treat our digital footprints and what we can do to protect them. While most of us are becoming more aware of how our data is used, many still rely on services that profit from it or put it at risk.

At Permanent.org, we believe that loving your data means protecting it in a way that prioritizes your needs above profit-driven motives. True digital preservation is not just about convenience, it’s about safeguarding your memories, files, and moments in a digital space where you are in control. How are we different than other commercial cloud service providers?

Your Data is Not a Commodity

In today’s digital landscape, it’s hard to escape the reality that your data is being commodified — something to be mined, analyzed, and sold. Big corporations thrive on using this data for targeted ads, profiling, and ultimately increasing their profits. At Permanent.org, we stand firmly against the practice of monetizing your personal data. 

We don’t require you to give invasive permissions like access to your contacts, microphone, or device data. This might seem small, but most commercial services push you to agree to broad, vague permissions that give them access to much more than you may realize. It’s important to have a choice on what data is being collected and used for. You can view our Privacy Policy to understand the personal data we collect and why.

When you use our platform, you can also decide the level of privacy you want for your digital archives. If you’re preserving important documents or personal projects, you can choose to keep your archive private. Or maybe you’re working on a community history project and want to contribute to a collective cultural archive and showcase it in our Public Gallery. The point is, it’s entirely up to you. 

Mission-Driven for Long-Term Preservation

True digital preservation requires a commitment to longevity and security. Subscription-based services can lock your files behind a paywall or even delete them if your account becomes inactive or payments stop, leaving users vulnerable to losing access to their precious data. Permanent.org guarantees ongoing access to your digital archives. 

We follow archival best practices to keep your files secure and accessible for the future. Our focus on format migration ensures that as technology evolves, your files will be preserved in formats that stand the test of time. Redundancy means multiple copies exist, safeguarding against hardware failures or unforeseen issues. Additionally, our platform allows you to add metadata, making your files accessible and meaningful for future generations or whomever you plan to share them with.

Our platform’s commitment also extends to supporting small cultural heritage institutions and community archives. Donations help us provide free cloud storage to these organizations through our Byte4Byte program, particularly those whose histories are at risk of being erased or censored. These organizations and communities may not have access to expensive commercial services or professional archivists, yet see value in keeping their collections and history safe.

Sustainable and Free from Profit Pressures

At Permanent.org, sustainability comes before profit. Unlike subscription-based services that rely on recurring fees, we operate on an endowment model, ensuring long-term stability that doesn’t depend on monthly payments. This shields us from the unpredictability of market shifts, economic downturns, or changing industry policies.

We are also open-source and transparent in how we operate with our community. Our development process is shared openly and we build new features with input from our users. By mirroring the values of libraries, museums, and archival institutions, we align our priorities with historical and educational preservation, not profit-driven motives.

Loving your data isn’t just about understanding its value, it’s about making intentional choices to protect it. In a digital world where so many platforms profit from your information, it’s more important than ever to choose services that respect your privacy, prioritize transparency, and ensure your memories won’t disappear due to changing business models or hidden terms.

Conclusion

Digital preservation doesn’t happen in isolation. There’s a growing movement of individuals and organizations working to create ethical, privacy-conscious spaces online. If you’re looking to connect with others who care about data privacy, digital rights, and community-driven archival efforts, we encourage you to explore organizations like Projectkin, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Internet Archive, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. These groups offer valuable resources and community discussions that align with Permanent’s mission to put people before profit in the digital space.

We’re also shifting toward decentralized social networks, join us on Bluesky, where users have greater control over their data and content. 

As we celebrate Love Your Data Week, take a moment to reflect on how you’re making informed decisions to preserve and protect your digital legacy.